Preparative Microbial Reduction of β‐Oxoesters with <i>Thermoanaerobium brockii</i>

Abstract

Cultures of thermophilic bacteria have been used for the first time on the laboratory scale in organic synthesis. The asymmetric reduction of some β-oxoesters 1 to the hydroxy esters 2 proceeded in good chemical and optical yields. For example: R  CH3 (ethyl ester), C2H5 (ethyl ester), and ClCH2 (methyl ester): ee = 80, 84 and 89%, respectively.